Cap having straw and reservoir for additive

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a cap having a straw and a reservoir for an additive. The cap includes: a fixture member having a straw attached to the reservoir, a container cap placed over the fixture member, and an opening member placed over the fixture member. The opening member has a cutter extending downward therefrom. The container cap has an upper cap coupler formed with a through-hole at an upper end thereof to allow passage of the straw and the cutter therethrough. The cutter is formed to communicate with the reservoir and open the bottom of the reservoir with a predetermined rotation of the opening member. The opening member further has a straw through-hole shaped to allow the straw to extend therethrough and remain upright during the predetermined rotation of the opening member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a dual cap having a straw and containing an additive. More particularly, to a cap having a straw and a reservoir for containing an additive that can be discharged.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Generally, a technique of adding an additive is based on a combination of a reservoir placed inside the neck of a container so as to be able to add the additive, and an opening member having an opening means for allowing the additive of the reservoir to be added into the container. This technique is adapted to couple the opening member with a container cap, or allow the reservoir to act as the container cap, and add the additive of the reservoir into the container through a separate pressing means or a separate rotation descending means. However, this technique, in which the additive is added to contents of the container, causes a user inconvenience in that the user directly touches a mouth of the container to his/her mouth when drinking. Also, because the additive is added through the mouth of the bottle, the additive can be highly concentrated at the mouth of the container when the user drinks the dissolved contents. Hence, the user drinks a high concentration of added contents first, and then gradually a low concentration of added contents. The more the user drinks the dissolved contents, the lower the satisfaction with the dissolved contents becomes. This can cause a problem of poor consumer satisfaction in using such a device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cap having a straw and a reservoir for an additive, capable of coupling the straw communicating with the inside of the container to the reservoir to enable a user to drink the contents of a container through the straw from the container's bottom where the additive has a low concentration to thereby enable the user to perceive a gradually improving taste of the contents according to the drinking of the contents. Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap having a straw and a reservoir for an additive, capable of making the straw folded, thereby preventing contents of a container from being discharged therethrough. A further object of the present invention is to provide a cap having a straw and a reservoir for an additive, in which an opening member is provided with an elongate, arcuate straw through-hole, and when a cutter is turned to cut a bottom of the reservoir so as to add the additive of the reservoir into the contents of a container, the straw is vertically maintained along the straw through-hole, thereby maintaining the straw without a damage or deformation when the bottom of the reservoir is cut.

In order to accomplish the above objects, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cap having a straw and a reservoir for an additive, which includes a fixture member fixing the straw to the surface of the reservoir. A container cap fixes the fixture member and is formed to attach to the neck of a container. The container cap has an upper cap coupler formed with a through-hole at an upper end thereof, and an opening member is placed over the container cap. The opening member has a cutter extending downward therefrom and through the through-hole of the container cap and into the reservoir. The opening member has a straw through-hole to allow passage of the straw therethrough.

The reservoir may be provided at an upper end thereof with a fixing plate having a diameter greater than that of a mouth of the container so as to be seated on the mouth of the container.

The container cap may be formed so that the upper cap coupler extends upward from a step formed at an upper end of the container cap, and the opening member can have an upper cap formed to engage the upper cap coupler. The top surface of the upper cap coupler may be provided with a straw supporting hole, through which the straw is supported and guided. The straw through-hole of the opening member is an arched horseshoe shaped elongate hole, which has an arch corresponding to the predetermined rotation of the opening member necessary to open the bottom of the reservoir. The cap is formed so that with the predetermined rotation of the opening member, the cutter will open the bottom of the reservoir. Also, due to the shape of the straw through-hole, the straw will remain upright when the opening member is rotated in the predetermined rotation. The top surface of the opening member may be provided with at least one straw clamp, which fixes the exposed straw so as to maintain a folded state where the straw does not allow external air to be introduced into the container.

The upper cap coupler and the cutter of the opening member may have intermittent ribs of a predetermined length protruding from outer surfaces thereof respectively. The upper cap and the reservoir of the fixture member, which correspond to the upper cap coupler and the cutter of the opening member, may be provided with intermittent rib grooves of a predetermined length, respectively.

The rib grooves may have lengths longer than those of the ribs so as to allow the opening member to rotate in close contact with the container cap.

The cap may further comprise a straw withdrawal cover, which is rotatably coupled to the opening member and provided with a guide hole guiding the straw to be withdrawn and folded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an assembled cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front elevation view illustrating an assembled cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front elevation view showing the cap in a rotated position wherein the bottom of the reservoir has been opened;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an assembled cap according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cap according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a cap according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference should now be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components.

The cap comprises a fixture member 10 having a straw 20 attached thereto. The fixture member 10 has a reservoir 11 capable of storing additives therein and a fixing plate 12 provided at an upper end of the reservoir 11. The fixing plate 12 has a diameter greater than that of a mouth of a container 1 so as to be seated on the mouth of the container 1.

A container cap 30 is placed over the fixture member 10, and the container cap 30 is formed to engage with a threaded section 2 of a container 1. The container cap has an upper cap coupler 32 formed with a through-hole 34 at an upper end thereof. The cap also has an opening member 40 fitting over the container cap 30. The opening member 40 has a cutter 44 extending through the through-hole 34 and coming into contact with a bottom of the reservoir 11. The opening member 40 also has a straw through-hole 42 exposing an upper end of the straw 20 on a top surface thereof.

The fixing plate 12 is extruded together with the straw 2 and is constructed to couple the straw 20 with a separate straw on a bottom surface thereof, in such a manner that the separate straw is fitted into or around, or adhered to the straw 20.

The container cap 30 includes a container cap threaded section 31 for engagement with the threaded section 2 of a container 1. The upper cap coupler 32 extends upwardly from a step 33 formed at an upper end of the container cap threaded section 31. The upper cap coupler 32 is rotatably coupled with an upper cap 41 of the opening member 40.

The top surface of the upper cap coupler 32 is provided with a straw supporting hole 35, into which the straw 20 is supported and guided.

The straw through-hole 42 is an elongate horseshoe shaped hole, which preferably has a curvature corresponding to a partial rotation of the opening member 40.

The top surface of the opening member 40 is preferably provided with a straw clamp 43, which fixes the exposed straw 20 so as to maintain a folded state where the straw 20 does not allow external air to be introduced into the container.

The upper cap coupler 32 and the cutter 44 of the opening member 40 have intermittent ribs 36 and 46 of a predetermined length protruding from outer surfaces thereof, respectively. The intermittent ribs can be placed in a spiraling formation around the respective outer surfaces.

The upper cap 41 and the reservoir 11 of the fixture member 10, which correspond to the upper cap coupler 32 and the cutter 44 of the opening member 40, are also provided with intermittent rib grooves 47 and 14 of a predetermined length on the inner surfaces thereof respectively. The intermittent grooves can be placed in a spiraling formation within the respective inner surfaces.

The rib grooves 47 and 14 are constructed to have lengths longer than those of the ribs 36 and 46 respectively, so as to allow the opening member 40 to rotate in close contact with the container cap 30. As described above, the rib grooves 47 and 14, and the ribs 36 and 46 corresponding to them are illustrated to have a smooth upward slope, but they may have a smooth downward slope. (In the latter case, an additive is released from the reservoir 11 after the opening member 40 is turned in a counterclockwise direction as a skirt 37 of the container cap 30 is separated, and thereby the container cap 30 is separated from the container 1.)

Of course, in the latter case, in order to provide a space corresponding to a height by which the opening member 40 can be lowered, a separate ring should be provided between the opening member 40 and the step 33, or a skirt separated when the opening member is lowered should be provided to a lower surface of the upper cap of the opening member 40.

Naturally, the ribs 36 and 46 and their corresponding rib grooves 47 and 14 leave their slant directions intact, and a ring or skirt is provided between the opening member 40 and the step 33. (In this case, the cutter 44 performs cutting by turning the opening member 40 in a clockwise direction, and the container cap 30 is separated by counterclockwise rotation.)

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a cap comprises a fixture member 10 having a reservoir 11 and coupled to a container 1 and an opening member 40 coupled to the fixture member 10 and having a cutter 44 performing cutting when being rotated. The fixture member 10 has a container cap 30 integrally formed with the reservoir 11. Other than the integral formation, the features of each component is similar to the first embodiment, and thus, their detailed description will be omitted. A straw 20 is placed through the fixture member 10 and into the container 1 for discharging contents therein. Also, the opening member 40 is coupled to the container cap 30 in a manner so that a predetermined rotation of the opening member 40 will cause the cutter 44 to cut a bottom of the reservoir 11. The opening member 40 has an arched horseshoe shaped elongate straw through-hole 42 so that an upper portion of the straw 20 continues to be exposed during rotation.

FIG. 7 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment has all of the features of the first embodiment of the present invention but for the straw clamps 43 and 43-1. This embodiment is different in that the opening member 40 has a top surface 48 extending upwardly from a top surface of an upper cap 41 with an intermediate step 49 left. This embodiment has an additional component in that the opening member 40 is rotatably coupled with a straw withdrawal cover 50 through a strip-like guide ring 49-2 protruding from the outer circumferential surface of a vertical section between the top surface 48 and the step 49, wherein the straw withdrawal cover 50 is provided with a guide hole 51, which guides a straw 20 to be withdrawn and folded. In this embodiment, the container 1 is filled with contents, and then the reservoir 11 having an additive is inserted into the neck 3 of the container 1. Then, the fixing plate 12 is placed on the mouth of the container 1 because it has a diameter greater than that of the neck 3 of the container 1. Of course, in this case, the fixing plate 12 of the fixture member 10 has the straw 20 extruded integrally or coupled separately. In this state, the container cap 30 is coupled to the container 1 such that the straw 20 is aligned with the straw supporting hole 35 of the container cap 30. The opening member 40 is seated on the step 33 of the container cap 30, and the straw 20 is exposed to one end of the straw through-hole 42. Thereby, similarly as illustrated in FIG. 2, the assembling process is completed. In order to block external air if necessary, the top surface of the opening member 40 may be sealed to have a contractile vinyl layer.

In all the embodiments, the vinyl layer (not shown) when used is first stripped off prior to consumption. The straw 20 is then set upright, and the opening member 40 is turned. Because the cutter 44, which is formed with a cutting edge 45 at a lower end thereof, is installed at the center of the opening member 40, when the upper cap 41 of the opening member 40 is turned (for instance, in a counterclockwise direction), the ribs 36 rotate along the grooves 47, so that the opening member 40 is raised along a slant path. At the same time, the rib 46 of the outer wall of the cutter 44 and the rib groove 14 of the inner wall of the reservoir 11 are coupled to each other, thereby guiding ascent (rotation) of the opening member 40 as well. This causes the cutting edge 45 to be pressed downward when the cutter 44 rotates. Thereby, the cutting edge 45 is made possible to gradually cut a bottom 15 of the reservoir 11 starting from a cutting edge sheath 13. In the meantime, the cutting edge 45 gradually opens the bottom 15 in a downward direction by means of weight and pushing as illustrated in FIG. 4, and thus the additive filled in the reservoir 11 falls down to mix with the contents in the container 1. In this case, because the rib groove 14 has a length shorter than that of the rib 46, the rib 46 deviates from the rib groove 14 when the opening member 40 is turned a predetermined rotation, thereby causing an upper edge 16 of the reservoir to be opened. As a result, a fine through-hole is formed between the cutter 44 and the wall of the reservoir 11. As such, when a user sucks the straw, air is naturally introduced via the through-hole to enable the user to continuously drink the mixed contents.

Now, a description of the case where the user intends to drink the contents some time later is given, followed by description about an initial state where the straw 20 is exposed and folded. In the initial state where the straw 20 is exposed and folded at a location P1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening member 40 is turned in a counterclockwise direction so that the cutter 44 can discharge the additive in the reservoir 11 of the fixture member 10. In this state after the predetermined rotation, the straw 20 is located at a location P2. Here, the straw 20 is clamped using another straw clamp 43-1. When the straw 20 is clamped to the straw clamp 43-1, it is in a folded state, thereby blocking the contents of the container 1 from being discharged. As a consequence, the contents of the container 1 can be prevented from being discharged through the straw 20, thereby ensuring storability.

The present invention can add a straw withdrawal cover 50 to the construction of FIGS. 1 through 6. With this construction, the straw 20 is folded or erected along a guide hole 51 as in FIG. 7, which saves trouble to separately fix or withdraw the straw. In this case, the guide hole 51 of the straw withdrawal cover 50 is formed into an elongate hole. When the straw withdrawal cover 50 is turned in a clockwise direction, one end 52 of the guide hole 51 presses the straw 20, thereby causing the straw 20 to be folded and seated in the guide hole 51. Because the straw is required not to sink down when being folded, the other end of the guide hole 51 is provided with a supporting tongue 54. On the other hand, when the straw withdrawal cover 50 is turned in a counterclockwise direction in order to erect the straw 20, the straw 20 is raised along a tapered surface 53 of the supporting tongue 54 and then set upright. Therefore, the user can conveniently fold or erect the straw 20 by tuning only the straw withdrawal cover 50. To this end, as in FIG. 7, a vertical section 49-1 of the opening member 40 is provided with a guide ring 49-2, and an inner circumferential surface of the straw withdrawal cover 50 is provided with a ring grove. Thereby, the guide ring 49-2 and the ring groove are subjected to rail coupling.

The straw 20 should be adapted to be folded. Also, the straw 20 should be formed so that when folded, the contents of the container are not discharged therethrough. As such, even when the straw 20 is coupled to the container 1, the container 1 can be conveniently used without accidentally discharging the contents. Also, the opening member 40 is provided with an arched horseshoe shaped elongate straw through-hole 42 so that with the predetermined amount of rotation of the opening member 40 needed for the cutter 44 to cut the bottom of the reservoir so as to add the additive of the reservoir 11 to the contents of the container, the straw is vertically maintained along the path of the straw through-hole 42 without damage or deformation as the bottom of the reservoir is cut. Additionally, the outer circumferential surface of the container cap is provided with the ribs, and the upper cap of the opening member is provided with the rib grooves. When the upper cap is turned with the ribs engaged with the rib grooves, the bottom of the reservoir is cut, and simultaneously the air communicates with the inside of the container. As a result, continuous siphonage via the straw is possible.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. A cap having a straw and a reservoir for an additive, the cap comprising: a fixture member fixing the straw to the reservoir; a container cap disposed over the fixture member, said container cap having an upper cap coupler formed with a through-hole at an upper end thereof; an opening member disposed over the container cap, said opening member having a cutter extending through the through-hole and communicating with a bottom of the reservoir, said opening member further having a straw through-hole exposing an upper end of the straw on a top surface thereof; and, wherein said cap is formed so that a predetermined rotation of the opening member will have the cutter open the bottom of the reservoir.
 2. The cap according to claim 1, wherein: the reservoir is provided at an upper end thereof with a fixing plate extending around the reservoir; and the straw extends through said fixing plate.
 3. The cap according to claim 1, wherein: the container cap has an interior surface having a threaded section; said upper cap coupler extends upward from a step formed at an upper end of the container cap; and, said opening member has an upper cap formed to fit onto the upper cap coupler.
 4. The cap according to claim 3, wherein the top surface of the upper cap coupler is provided with a straw supporting hole, through which the straw is supported and guided.
 5. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the straw through-hole formed on the opening member is an arched horseshoe shaped elongate hole, which has an arch corresponding to the predetermined rotation of the opening member necessary to open the bottom of the reservoir.
 6. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the opening member is provided with at least one straw clamp for removably locking onto the straw.
 7. The cap according to claim 1, wherein: the upper cap coupler and the cutter of the opening member have intermittent ribs of a predetermined length protruding from outer surfaces thereof respectively; the upper cap and the reservoir of the fixture member are provided with intermittent grooves of a predetermined length on inner surfaces thereof, respectively; and, wherein said intermittent grooves of the upper cap and the reservoir corresponds to the intermittent ribs of the upper cap coupler and the cutter, respectively.
 8. The cap according to claim 7, wherein the grooves have lengths longer than those of the ribs so as to allow the opening member to rotate in close contact with the container cap.
 9. The cap according to claim 1 further comprising; a top surface extending upwardly from the upper cap with an intermediate step formed therebetween; a straw withdrawal cover rotatably disposed above said opening member; a guide hole formed through a top surface of the straw withdrawal cover, said guide hole formed so that the straw can extend upright through the guide hole and with rotation of the straw withdrawal cover withdrawn into the straw withdrawal cover.
 10. A cap having a straw and a reservoir for an additive, the cap comprising: a fixture member fixing the straw to the reservoir; a container cap integrally formed with the fixture member, said container cap having an upper cap coupler formed with a through-hole at an upper end thereof, said container cap has an interior surface having a threaded section, said upper cap coupler extends upward from a step formed at an upper end of the container cap; an opening member formed to fit onto the upper cap coupler of the container cap, said opening member having a cutter extending through the through-hole and communicating with a bottom of the reservoir, said opening member further having a straw through-hole exposing an upper end of the straw on a top surface thereof; and, wherein said cap is formed so that a predetermined rotation of the opening member will have the cutter open the bottom of the reservoir.
 11. The cap according to claim 10, wherein the straw through-hole formed on the opening member is an arched horseshoe shaped elongate hole, which has an arch corresponding to a predetermined rotation of the opening member.
 12. The cap according to claim 10, wherein: the top surface of the opening member is provided with at least one straw clamp for removably locking onto the straw; the upper cap coupler and the cutter of the opening member have intermittent ribs of a predetermined length protruding from outer surfaces thereof, respectively; the upper cap and the reservoir of the fixture member are provided with intermittent grooves of a predetermined length on inner surfaces thereof, respectively; and, wherein said intermittent grooves of the upper cap and the reservoir corresponds to the intermittent ribs of the upper cap coupler and the cutter, respectively.
 13. A cap for use with a bottle having a neck, said cap having a straw and a reservoir for an additive, said cap comprising: a fixture member fixing the straw to the reservoir; a container cap disposed over the fixture member, said container cap formed to connect said cap onto said bottle, said container cap having an upper cap coupler formed with a through-hole at an upper end thereof; an opening member disposed over the container cap, said opening member having a cutter extending through the through-hole and communicating with a bottom of the reservoir, said opening member further having a straw through-hole exposing an upper end of the straw on a top surface thereof; and, wherein said cap is formed so that a predetermined rotation of the opening member will have the cutter open the bottom of the reservoir.
 14. The cap according to claim 13, wherein: the reservoir is provided at an upper end thereof with a fixing plate extending around the reservoir; and the straw extends through said fixing plate.
 15. The cap according to claim 13, wherein: the container cap has an interior surface having a threaded section; said upper cap coupler extends upward from a step formed at an upper end of the container cap; and, said opening member has an upper cap formed to fit onto the upper cap coupler.
 16. The cap according to claim 13, wherein the top surface of the upper cap coupler is provided with a straw supporting hole, through which the straw is supported and guided.
 17. The cap according to claim 13, wherein the straw through-hole formed on the opening member is an arched horseshoe shaped elongate hole, which has an arch corresponding to a predetermined rotation of the opening member.
 18. The cap according to claim 13, wherein the top surface of the opening member is provided with at least one straw clamp for removably locking onto the straw.
 19. The cap according to claim 13, wherein: the upper cap coupler and the cutter of the opening member have intermittent ribs of a predetermined length protruding from outer surfaces thereof, respectively; the upper cap and the reservoir of the fixture member are provided with intermittent grooves of a predetermined length on inner surfaces thereof, respectively; and, wherein said intermittent grooves of the upper cap and the reservoir corresponds to the intermittent ribs of the upper cap coupler and the cutter, respectively.
 20. The cap according to claim 13 further comprising; a top surface extending upwardly from the upper cap with an intermediate step formed therebetween; a straw withdrawal cover rotatably disposed above said opening member; a guide hole formed through a top surface of the straw withdrawal cover, said guide hole formed so that the straw can extend upright through the guide hole and with rotation of the straw withdrawal cover withdrawn into the straw withdrawal cover. 